For most women, heavy periods, menstrual cramps and pelvic pain can be attributed to simply being a woman. But when these ailments are severe, it could be a sign of endometriosis, a condition that affects your reproductive organs when the lining cells of the uterus grow outside of it. It can produce mild to severe symptoms including persistent pain in the pelvic region, extremely painful periods and more. If you are a woman of child-bearing age, read on to learn more about the most common symptoms of endometriosis.

Heavy, painful periods

In general, the pain begins days prior to your period and lasts the duration of your menstrual cycle. Your period will be extremely heavy, and you may even notice clots in your period blood.

Pain in the lower abdomen and pelvis

For some women this pain is constant, but it usually gets worse on the days leading up to and during your period. That being said, not every woman experiences pelvic pain with endometriosis, which is why endometriosis is not diagnosed in many cases.

Intestinal pain

When you have endometriosis, you may experience constipation, diarrhea and pain with bowel movements. Many women mistake this for a gastrointestinal issue, which is why endometriosis can be confused with irritable bowel syndrome or food intolerance.

Pain during intercourse

This pain can happen during intercourse and may continue for a few hours afterward. It can be even more painful when you’re about to start your period or when you’re menstruating. If you experience painful sex combined with abdominal pain, there is a much greater chance you have endometriosis.

Reduced fertility
Nearly half of women with endometriosis experience difficulty becoming pregnant. The reason for this may be because clumps of endometriosis block the egg’s path to the fallopian tube. Many women don’t even know they have endometriosis until they have difficulty conceiving and go to their doctor to help pinpoint the problem.

If you are experiencing one or a combination of the symptoms listed above, or if you have questions about endometriosis, contact Women’s Care of Beverly Hills Group to learn more about our range of services by calling 310-657-1600.